Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto expressed his aspiration to establish Indonesia as a mediator and a good neighbor, not only for its neighboring countries but also for the major powers of the world.

This was conveyed by the president at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Friday, monitored online here.

Prabowo reflected on ASEAN's founding history, noting that over 50 years ago, Southeast Asian nations were embroiled in conflicts.

However, he further said that recognizing that issues like poverty and hunger were more pressing than war, leaders from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia united to create ASEAN.

"Lo and behold, 50 years, no conflict. We still have differences, but we tend to use diplomacy, we tend to talk. Better to talk than fight," he affirmed.

According to Prabowo, leaders in the ASEAN and Asia regions prioritize diplomacy, even if it means lengthy, tedious talks.

He believes such interactions foster connections among leaders and help prioritize shared interests.

"We tend to think of the common interests. This is my philosophy also. I want to bring Indonesia to a position of good relations with all the big powers," he remarked.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is an annual event held by Türkiye. This year's forum, held on April 11-13 under the theme "Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World," was inaugurated by President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Türkiye is the second stop on Prabowo's five-nation Middle East tour–started on April 9–after the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition to the UAE and Türkiye, he is scheduled to visit Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan.

Translator: Mentari Dwi, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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